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Despite good monsoon, half of Punjab, Haryana face rain deficit -Anju Agnihotri Chaba
-The Indian Express

Insufficient rain in many districts has put an extra burden on underground water of Punjab, which is growing 29-30 lakh hectares of paddy rice this year

Jalandhar: Despite forecast of a good monsoon, around 50 per cent districts of Punjab, which account for the highest contribution of rice crop, around 30-35 per cent (one-third of the country) to the central pool, and neighbouring Haryana are still dry in the season of the water-guzzling paddy rice growing crop.

Although the states had witnessed almost normal pre-monsoon showers, which was an indication of the good monsoon this year, now insufficient rain in several districts has put an extra burden on the underground water of the state, which is growing 29-30 lakh hectares of paddy rice this year.

Till July 20, around 152.2 mm monsoon rain was received by the state against the normal 162.0 mm which is -6 per cent departure from the normal rainfall. However, the main concern is that around 50 per cent districts of Punjab are facing deficit of rain despite over all good rainfall.

The information procured from the Met department revealed that of 23 districts, four recorded much above normal rainfall while over 10 districts, including Faridkot, Firozpur, Fathegarh Sahib, Mohali, Patiana, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Ludhiana etc have been facing the problem of rain deficit even in full monsoon season. Firozpur is witnessing -70 per cent rainfall on monsoon the district had also witnessed -93 per cent pre-monsoon rainfall. Against the 110.4 mm normal rainfall which the district should get by now, it has received only 33.6 mm, a departure of -70 per cent from the normal.

Mohali and Patiala also got -62 and -50 per cent rainfall respectively. Jalandhar and Hohiarpur received -55 and -29 per cent of rainfall till date this year.

Faridkot and Fatehgarh Sahib recorded16 and 40 per cent rainfall respectively. Only Kapurthala, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Barnala districts received above normal rainfall, while remaining 10 districts have got normal rainfall.

In Kapurthala district, 81 per cent above the normal rainfall has been received. Against the normal 142.2 mm, the district received 257.1 mm during June 1 to July 20 period. Similarly in Amritsar district saw an increase of 56 per cent more rain was seen where 268.2 mm rainfall was recorded against the normal 172.3 mm.

It may be noted that with the missing of first three weeks monsoon showers results in the heavy exploitation of groundwater during paddy season in state where 102 of 141 Agricultural development blocks have already gone dry and ground water is available at around 200 feet down.

“Though overall monsoon is almost normal in Punjab till date but we need it all over the state, not excessive in some pockets and deficit in other portions of state,” said Punjab Agriculture department director, Dr J S Bains.

“We are not getting rain across the state…in some districts there is heavy rain while others are dry,” said Amarjit Singh, a farmer from Jalandhar.

The situation in neighbouring Haryana, which also grows rice on around 12-13 lakh hectares, too is not good. Of 22 districts of Haryana more than 50 per cent districts have been facing deficit monsoon rain till date. These districts included Kurukshetra (-81 %), Panipat (-66%), Panchkula (-61%), Karnal (-42%), Kaithal (-53%), Ambala (-59%), Rohtak (-38%), Sonepat (-36%) , sirsa (-40) etc.

Overall-10 per cent deficit rain fall recorded in Haryana till date. India Met Department director Surinder Pal, who is based in Chandigarh, said as per the weather indications, the monsoon in the beginning was weak in both the states but added that it would cover the entire areas in the coming days.